16-Nights African Safari Adventure with Zanzibar Island Escape

Lake Manyara National Park

Approaching Lake Manyara National Park the view is spectacular. From the east the Rift Valley escarpment looms on the horizon forming an impressive backdrop to the lake. From the west, the Park lies in a green strip below and the lake glistens in the sunlight. The Park's different habitats are clear. In the tall trees of the ground water forest monkeys leap from branch to branch, on the slope of the escarpment elephants stand in the shade of a baobab. In the acacia woodland lions lie draped along the branches of umbrella trees, in the pools along the lake shore the hippos wallow, and in the lake itself wade colorful flamingos. The large variety of mammals, reptiles and birds in the Park and the different types of vegetation, all within a small area make Lake Manyara a diverse and particularly memorable place to visit.

Zanzibar

Tarangire

Ngorongoro

Serengeti

Lake Victoria, Kenya

Located 200 mi/320 km west of Nairobi, Lake Victoria is the world's second-largest lake and the main source of the Nile River. Perhaps because Kenya has such an abundance of natural beauty, it ranks fairly low as a tourist destination—the smaller lakes in the Rift Valley are generally more rewarding to visit. But if you're interested in fishing (for Nile perch, especially) or if you're in the area and time is not a problem, by all means visit its shores. We took a fun ride in dugout canoes and saw plenty of pelicans and herons.

Don't swim in the lake, however: Bilharzia, a liver-damaging parasite, is present in some areas. For serious (and wealthy) anglers there are wonderful luxury fishing camps on both Mfangano and Rusinga islands—both can be reached by private air charter from the Masai Mara after a safari.

Maasai Mara

Lake Nakuru National Park Rift Valley

Lake Nakuru National Park in Kenya's Rift Valley, located 100 mi/160 km northwest of Nairobi, is known for its flamingos, as well as its other birds (some 400 species have been documented). Hundreds of thousands of flamingos migrate among a handful of soda lakes in the area, including Lake Nakuru, so the actual number of birds varies at different times of year. But the sight of the massed flamingos is spectacular—when you gaze down on the lake from an overlook, it appears to be ringed in pink.

Other animals also inhabit the park. It's a rhino sanctuary, with both white and black rhinos—probably one of your best chances to see these endangered animals. It's also home to rare Rothschild giraffes. Keep an eye out for lions, too, or even leopards up in the arms of the tall yellow acacia trees.

Easy access from Nairobi makes this an excellent park for those on a quick trip to Kenya.

Aberdare National Park

Located 100 mi/160 km north of Nairobi, scenic Aberdare National Park in Kenya's Aberdare Mountain Range has a diverse topography that includes waterfalls, rain forests and rivers. At the highest elevations, the forests give way to open moors. Although home to a variety of animals, the dense forest makes it difficult to spot them.

The two famous lodges in the park, the Ark and Treetops (which is actually built in the trees), overlook watering holes that are lit at night for round-the-clock animal viewing. (Both lodges are expensive, by the way.) It was from Treetops that Princess Elizabeth of England learned of her father's death in 1952. She climbed into her room at Treetops as a princess and climbed down the following morning as queen.

Rains wreak havoc on the park's roads, sometimes causing closures in the wet season. At any time of year, a four-wheel-drive vehicle is advisable.

Lake Naivasha

Lake Naivasha, Kenya, located 50 mi/80 km northwest of Nairobi, is most commonly visited as an overnight stop by tours going from Masai Mara to Lake Nakuru. It's a shame, because there's a lot to see around the lake itself. The waters are loaded with hippos and birds, and you can go fishing. It's a good place to relax for a few days at the country hotels on the lakeshore—an alternative to the coast. If you have time, take a pleasant boat trip to Crescent Island, one of the few game-viewing areas where visitors can walk around and set up a tripod to photograph animals.

Also near the lake is Joy Adamson's former home, which is now a museum dedicated to her life and important conservation work in Kenya. There, you can visit the museum, see a documentary film about her life and enjoy a cup of tea among the giant acacia trees on the lawns.

Nairobi